Three Floyds Behemoth Barleywine (2009 bottle)

Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Co., Munster, Indiana
Style: American barleywine
Origin: USA
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Glass: Snifter
OMG Beer Rating: 8.6

This brew exemplifies all the reasons why an American version of barleywine exists. The hops of our wild and young country lend piney, citrusy flavors that do wonders to the complexity of a very alcoholic, but very tasty malt backbone. This isn't an IPA, or an Imperial IPA though, this is purely its own beast. Reddish amber in color, with a nice bubbly-looking body and sticky lacing, the aroma hits your nose with grapefruit first, but then dark raisiny bread, caramel, brown sugar, and roasted grains persist. The flavor is smooth, not overly bitter at all, though still runs hoppy (this IS a 3F brew obviously). There's a nice sweet caramel aftertaste that lingers along with some alcohol fumes and maybe a hint of the roasted malts and a definite fruitness (the bottle says it finishes with cherry, but cherry, currant, something berry fruit is in the finish).